UN envoy hails US Guantanamo move

By Susannah Price
BBC correspondent at the United Nations

The UN human rights representative has welcomed the US Supreme Court's move to hear appeals from al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects held at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay.

Hina Jilani said the judiciary was an important forum for protecting citizens' rights.

Her remarks came at a meeting of a UN General Assembly committee on the impact of counter-terrorism laws.

On Monday, the US court said it would rule if some detainees could challenge their detention in a civilian court.

GUANTANAMO BAY United States Navy base in south-eastern Cuba Leased by Washington since 1903, but not regarded as US territory Houses more than 600 al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects Inmates not covered by US constitutional guarantees Q&A: Detainees' status

The UN special representative said that unless the judiciary the world over protected the rights of citizens, there was no guarantee human rights would be respected.

Mr Jilani also said that in various countries national security legislation meant to prevent terrorism was being used to stop human rights activities and limit the freedom of expression.

She said human rights defenders - who include political activists, religious groups, lawyers and journalists - were crucial in monitoring emergency situations but were often prevented from carrying out their work.

The UN representative said that in some cases, individuals had been killed, tortured, threatened, subject to arrest or deported.

However, she would not be drawn on which countries were the worst offenders, saying these trends were indicative of a general approach being adopted.